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RDK Truck Sales blog workspace with laptop showing garbage truck listings and commercial trucks blurred behind

RDK Truck Sales · The Blog

Straight Talk on Trucks, From the People Who Sell Them

Meet the Author

Every Post Written by Richard Kemner, Founder of RDK Truck Sales

Richard Kemner started RDK Truck Sales in Tampa back in 1997 with a simple idea: sell good trucks to good people, and stand behind every one.

Nearly three decades later he's still in the day-to-day — spec'ing chassis, talking with manufacturers and fleet operators across Florida, and paying close attention to how trucks actually hold up on real refuse and roll-off routes. This is where he shares that perspective: plain-language takes on emissions rules, pricing, residual value, and fleet planning, written to help you make the call that's right for your operation — not to push whatever a press release says you should want. No hype, no jargon, just the kind of straight talk you'd get standing in the yard on Adamo Drive.

Cartoon boy in a hi-vis vest waiting at his driveway at 7:03 AM for the RDK garbage truck, Big Bertha, on her Tuesday route
Company Culture & Community,  Gary The Garbage Man
Richard Kemner

A crayon invitation, a giant yellow bow, and one HOA variance — Part 5 of Gary the Garbage Man takes Big Bertha to a birthday party.

Big Bertha, an RDK-red garbage truck, shelters children at a rainy Tampa bus stop on the first day of school for an RDK Truck Sales story.
Company Culture & Community,  Gary The Garbage Man
Richard Kemner

A Florida downpour hits early, but Gary, Russ, and Big Bertha keep 6 kids dry on the first day in this Back to School story from RDK Truck Sales.

Gary the Garbage Man Part 4: three raccoons named Gerald, Diane, and Steve sit atop a dumpster while Gary and Russ laugh beside Big Bertha, RDK Truck Sales' red garbage truck
Gary The Garbage Man,  Company Culture & Community
Richard Kemner

A raccoon named Gerald, a curbside espresso machine, and what Gary has learned about what folks throw away. Part 4 of the Gary the Garbage Man series.

Gary the Garbage Man Part 3: teenager Russ sits alone on Big Bertha's bumper at 4:44 AM holding two cups of coffee, RDK Truck Sales story
Gary The Garbage Man,  Company Culture & Community
Richard Kemner

Two coffees, one dark parking lot, and the morning Russ earned his seat on Big Bertha. Part 3 of RDK Truck Sales' Gary the Garbage Man series.

Gary the Garbage Man Part 2: teen Russ stands alone holding a fried fish plate at a church fish fry, RDK Truck Sales story
Gary The Garbage Man,  Company Culture & Community
Richard Kemner

Russ was the new kid nobody noticed until Gary the Garbage Man sat down. Part 2 of RDK Truck Sales' fan-favorite garbage truck story series.

Gary The Garbage Man,  Company Culture & Community
Richard Kemner

RDK Truck Sales meets Gary Kowalski: a funny look at life behind the wheel of a 33,000lb refuse truck, from mystery mattresses to loyal RDK customers.